Avon man arrested for allegedly breaking into Edwards deli

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EAGLE — An Avon man allegedly fired from a local deli where he worked was arrested for allegedly breaking into the business four times in seven days.

Hugo Jared Martinez, 18, lives in the Tarnes in Beaver Creek. Martinez is alleged to be a former employee who got caught stealing from the Smiling Moose Deli in Edwards. About two weeks ago, he was fired, authorities said.

That’s about the time the break-ins began, authorities said.

On four separate occasions between April 21 and Tuesday, Eagle County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Smiling Moose Deli to investigate burglaries. A window was broken and money was stolen from the location.

On Sunday, deputies visited with Martinez and found one of the Smiling Moose’s knives in his possession.

On Monday night, Martinez allegedly broke in again and cut his arm on the broken glass. Investigators collected blood from the area.

During one of the break-ins he tried to pry open a cash register drawer with a knife, but when he failed he allegedly took the entire cash register, authorities said.

He was arrested Wednesday night, and during his advisement Thursday morning he tried to point out to Eagle County Court Judge Katharine Sullivan that he didn’t steal any money.

Sullivan explained that if he wanted to talk, maybe he should talk to the investigators from the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, but not to say another word in her courtroom until he had a lawyer.

Sullivan set his bond at $7,500 and gave him a curfew of 10 p.m. That’s when he has to be home. Plus no alcohol or drugs while he’s out on bond.

When prosecutors questioned whether he’d be able to comply with those conditions, Sullivan told Martinez that if he isn’t home by 10 o’clock, then police could pick him up and he could sit in jail until his case is over.

Besides the cash register and the blood, Martinez allegedly threw something through one of the Smiling Moose’s huge glass windows. Investigators got a boot print from that, authorities said.